Molecular and crystal structures of ruthenium and osmium arene clusters

The molecular and crystal structures of a number of ruthenium and osmium clusters of nuclearity between three and six containing arene fragments such as C₆H₆, C₆H₃Me₃, C₆H₄Me₂ and C₆H₅Me have been investigated. Attention has been focused on the relationship between the terminal ( ⁶-coordination) and face-capping ( ₃: ²: ²: ²-coordination) bonding modes. Empirical packing potential energy calculations have been employed to investigate the intermolecular organization in the crystal. It has been shown that the arene fragments in mono-arene clusters form ribbons, while in bis-arene clusters graphitic-like interactions throughout the crystal are established. The factors controlling the ease of arene reorientational motion in the solid state has also been investigated in relation to the shape, size and geometry of the molecules and of their interlocking modes.     

Mechanistic studies of nickel(II) alkyl agostic cations and alkyl ethylene complexes: investigations of chain propagation and isomerization in (alpha-diimine)Ni(II)-catalyzed ethylene polymerization

The synthesis of a series of (alpha-diimine)NiR(2) (R = Et, (n)Pr) complexes via Grignard alkylation of the corresponding (alpha-diimine)NiBr(2) precursors is presented. Protonation of these species by the oxonium acid [H(OEt(2))(2)](+)[BAr'(4)](-) at low temperatures yields cationic Ni(II) beta-agostic alkyl complexes which model relevant intermediates present in nickel-catalyzed olefin polymerization reactions. The highly dynamic nature of these agostic alkyl cations is quantitatively addressed using NMR line broadening techniques. Trapping of these complexes with ethylene provides cationic Ni alkyl ethylene species, which are used to determine rates of ethylene insertion into primary and secondary carbon centers. The Ni agostic alkyl cations are also trapped by CH(3)CN and Me(2)S to yield Ni(R)(L)(+) (L = CH(3)CN, Me(2)S) complexes, and the dynamic behavior of these species in the presence of varied [L] is discussed. The kinetic data obtained from these experiments are used to present an overall picture of the ethylene polymerization mechanism for (alpha-diimine)Ni catalysts, including effects of reaction temperature and ethylene pressure on catalyst activity, polyethylene branching, and polymer architecture. Detailed comparisons of these systems to the previously presented analogous palladium catalysts are made.     

Dendritic nanowire ultraviolet laser array

Self-organized dendritic crystal growth is explored to assemble uniform semiconductor nanowires into highly ordered one-dimensional microscale arrays that resemble comb structures. The individual ZnO nanowires have uniform diameters ranging from 10 to 300 nm. They are evenly spaced on a stem with a regular periodicity of 0.1-2 micrometer. Under optical excitation, each individual ZnO nanowire serves as a Fabry-Perot optical cavity, and together they form a highly ordered nanowire ultraviolet laser array.     

Student-Designed Multistep Synthesis Projects in Organic Chemistry

The incorporation of research projects into undergraduate chemistry courses provides a perspective that is fundamentally unavailable in most laboratory experiences. While independent, multistep synthesis projects in organic chemistry have been reported previously, most efforts have been directed at relatively restricted, closely guided research plans with modest student participation in the experimental design. We have implemented a more open-ended synthesis project, limited principally by cost, safety and availability of materials. In the second semester of the sophomore organic sequence, students develop multiple drafts of a plan for a three-to-four-step synthesis. Subsequently, students obtain their own literature protocols for the individual steps. The synthesis is performed over three four-hour laboratory periods. The students conclude this project with a poster presentation of the results at the end of the semester. Evaluation of the students work focuses not only on the successful synthesis of the target but also on planning, troubleshooting, purification, and spectral analysis.     

Some reactions of copper(I) pentafluorothiophenolate as a nucleophile

Several aromatic compounds containing one or two C₆F₅S groups have been prepared by nucleophilic displacement reactions using CuSC₆F₅ in DMF solution. Aromatic iodine or bromine, rather than chlorine of fluorine is replaced by the SC₆F₅ group using CuSC₆F₅. A mechanism is postulated. New compounds prepared include $\text{p}$-(C₆F₆F₅S)₂C₆H₄, $\text{o}$- and $\text{m}$-(C₆F₅S)₂C₆F₄ and $\text{p}$XC₆H₄SC₆F₅(X=C1, NO₂, I, CH₃, CO₂C₂H₅).     

Calorimeters for biotechnology

The isothermal and temperature scanning calorimeters manufactured by Calorimetry Sciences Corporation are briefly described. Applications of calorimetry to determine thermodynamics and kinetics of reactions of interest in biotechnology are described with illustrative examples.     

Identification of a highly effective asymmetric phase-transfer catalyst derived from α-methylnaphthylamine

A library of quaternary ammonium salts has been generated via reaction of simple chiral amines with a series of conformationally dynamic biphenyl units. Screening of this library against the alkylation of a glycine imine has led to the identification of a highly effective asymmetric phase-transfer catalyst derived from α-methylnaphthylamine.     

Reactions of triosmium clusters with organic azides; x-ray crystal structures of [Os3(CO)10(NCMe)(N3COPh)], [Os3(μ-H)(CO)10(HN3Ph)], and [Os3(μ-H)2(CO)9(μ3-NPh)]

Organic azides [N₃R] react with [Os₃(CO)₁₁(NCMe)] and with [Os₃(μ-H)₂(CO)₁₀] to form [Os₃(CO)₁₀(NCMe)(N₃COR)] (R  Ph) and [Os₃(μ-H)(CO)₁₀(HN₃R)] (R  Ph, n-Bu, CH₂Ph, cyclo-C₆H₁₁), respectively; the latter may be converted to [Os₃(μ-H)₂(CO)₉(μ₃-NR)] by thermolysis; the molecular structure of the phenyl derivative of each class of compound has been confirmed by x-ray analysis.     

Interfacial electrical properties of DNA-modified diamond thin films: intrinsic response and hybridization-induced field effects

We have investigated the frequency-dependent interfacial electrical properties of nanocrystalline diamond films that were covalently linked to DNA oligonucleotides and how these properties are changed upon exposure to complementary and noncomplementary DNA oligonucleotides. Frequency-dependent electrical measurements at the open-circuit potential show significant changes in impedance at frequencies of >10(4) Hz when DNA-modified diamond films are exposed to complementary DNA, with only minimal changes when exposed to noncomplementary DNA molecules. Measurements as a function of potential show that at 10(5) Hz, the impedance is dominated by the space-charge region of the diamond film. DNA molecules hybridizing at the interface induce a field effect in the diamond space-charge layer, altering the impedance of the diamond film. By identifying a range of impedances where the impedance is dominated by the diamond space-charge layer, we show that it possible to directly observe DNA hybridization, in real time and without additional labels, via simple measurement of the interfacial impedance.     

Carbon nanohorns grown from ruthenium nanoparticles

A nanoscale ruthenium/gold bimetallic cluster of clusters has been used as a molecular precursor to produce pure ruthenium nanoparticles (seeds) as catalysts for the growth of carbon nanohorns (CNHs).